Hector Avalos, associate professor of religious studies and Latino studies, has been appointed director of Iowa State’s Latino studies program.

“[Avalos] has been so dedicated to the development of the program,” Zora Zimmerman, associate dean in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, said in a press release. “He has a strong scholarship in the field.”

Avalos said Latino studies is emerging as one of ISU’s fastest-growing fields of study.

“The Latino studies program is devoted to the study of people living in the United States who trace their roots back to Spanish-speaking countries,” Avalos said.

He said more than 30 million Latinos currently reside in the United States.

“[The Latino studies program] is supposed to make students aware and educated on the fastest-growing ethnic group in the country,” Avalos said.

Steffen Schmidt, professor of political science, said he feels it is important to study Latino culture.

“It is really important for us to discuss and understand how Latinos fit into the mosaic of society,” Schmidt said. “We certainly want to know more about Latinos and be able to relate to the largest minority group in the U.S.”

ISU’s Latino studies program emerged in 1994 as a result of the success experienced with the introduction to Latino studies course, Avalos said.

“The program has grown from having no faculty or classes to one that offers several courses in Latino literature, sociology and religion,” he said.

He said ISU is home to the only Latino studies program at a state of Iowa public university.

Avalos said he has plans for the future development of the Latino studies program.

“Our goals are to have a freestanding minor and major in Latino studies,” he said.